Soccer Saturday - Indy Eleven for 06-10-23

(00:00 - 4:47) - This June 10th edition of Soccer Saturday opens with a preview of the Indy 11 versus Hartford matchup coming up. The 11 have luckily come away with three points in every game against Hartford so far. The Indy 11 Women's team have 4 matches left in the regular season and are in control of their playoff destiny with these final few games. Finally, the news everyone has talked about this past week, Lionel Messi is landing in America to play soccer with Inter Miami.

(7:48 - 18:00) - Roberto Molina comes onto the show for the second segment. The former Las Vegas Lights forward joined the Indy 11 in May and talks about getting caught up to speed on a team half-way through the year. Molina discusses the winning culture that has been formed in the Indy 11 camp and how that influences his drive to play. Rakestraw asks Molina to catch listeners up on his upbringing as a player originally born in El Salvador and then being raised in America. Post-interview Rakestraw details when and where soccer fans might be able to witness Messi play.

(21:02 - 30:27) - Addie Chester joins the program fresh off two wins from Tuesday and Friday. Both games were 2-0 victories against Racing Louisville FC and Lexington SC. Chester, a Muncie local, has returned for her second season with the 11 women's team. Rakestraw wants to know what feels different from last year to this one and Chester believes that the biggest change is that the general public now knows that the 11 women's program is a quality soccer team. Chester talks about the honor of wearing an 11 Crest while playing and the comradery this team displays on and off the field.

(33:29 - 45:42) - USL Tactics John Morrissey is the third guest of the show, he is immediately asked about Mark Lowry's midfield injury issues and how the coach can deal with them moving forward. Morrissey gives a scouting report on the Men's team's future opponent in Hartford Athletic. He notes that Hartford has struggled this season, but they still have a very energetic and fast offense that the 11 need to be prepared for. The 11 can control the game by preparing for the long ball and disrupting that offensive attack. While Hartford certainly has the talent, they just don't have the system in place to be a winning team yet.

(48:44 - 59:46) The show closes out with more talk of Lionel Messi coming to America to play with Inter Miami in the MLS. A brief recall of 2007 and when David Beckham came to America and the hype that surrounded his arrival. Messi is arriving to an Inter Miami team that sits in 15th place, or last place in the Eastern Conference. Even at last place the addition of Messi has made Inter Miami one of the most talked about teams in American Sports this past week. Then, the usual breakdown of Premiere League happenings and the Champions League final occurring later this afternoon.